The Maple Leafs and Canadiens may be headed for the same offseason fight.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, both Toronto and Montreal are in the mix for Mason Marchment, with the two Canadian rivals said to “covet” the winger as NHL free agency opens at 12 noon ET on Wednesday.
Marchment is expected to be available, and Johnston projects a deal in the neighborhood of $5.67 million per year over four years. That would put the total value at $17 million.
The 31-year-old winger appears to be in line for what could be his final major contract, and his recent season gave him a strong platform. Johnston pointed to an in-season trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the turning point for Marchment, writing that it “sparked Marchment’s flat-lining game this past season and put him in a much stronger position heading into free agency.”
After that move, Marchment produced 15 goals in 39 games for Columbus. Over the full 2025-26 season, he finished with 45 points in 68 games, including 19 goals and 26 assists.
Johnston described him as a big winger who brings an aggressive edge, strong hands in tight spaces and a physical style that looks more like old-school power forwards than the modern NHL. He also noted that Marchment was a middle-six player, which is likely the role he’d fill wherever he lands next.
For Toronto, he’d offer experience to a team looking for a bounceback season. For Montreal, he’d bring a veteran presence to a younger roster. Either way, both clubs appear ready to make their pitch.
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